Two Days to Go to Olympic Day: Youth Sport in the Spotlight in Lithuania

21 | 6 | 2017

Olympians were out in force to help spread the Olympic Day message in Lithuania on 3 June. More than a dozen Olympians took part in the official Olympic Day celebrations, which this year centred on the city of Alytus, which delivered the country’s largest mass sports and culture event.

The festivities began with the lighting of the Olympic Day torch before Olympians from a range of disciplines, including Dominykas Jancionis (Rowing, Rio 2016), led the traditional Olympic Day run.

Rio 2016 Olympic Silver medallist Saulius Ritteris (Rowing) led demonstrations on a rowing machine, while Rio 2016 Paralympic champion Mindaugas Bilius (Shot Put, Discus) presented para-sport events and encouraged people to give them a try. Edvinas Krungolcas (Modern Pentathlon, Beijing 2008), also ran a fencing workshop for young people as part of the event.

The day-long celebration also marked the culmination of Lithuania‘s school sports competitions. Around 600 school children from the top teams throughout the country competed in Volleyball, Handball, Basketball, Table Tennis and Shooting finals with winning teams and athletes receiving medals and prizes from Olympic cyclist Simona Krupeckaite (London 2012),  Lithuanian Olympic Association (LOA) President Lina Kaciušyte (Swimming, Moscow 1980) and Secretary General Vida Venciene (Cross-Country skiing, Calgary 1988) among others.

Olympian Edvinas Krungolcas, who won silver in Modern Pentathlon at Beijing 2008, has embraced Olympic Day and values the responsibility of being a role model for young athletes.

“If you want to achieve something in your life, first of all you must have a good attitude towards hard work,” Krungolcas said. “Children need to have good examples and then they will start do good things. They need to see and hear successful stories to then believe in themselves. It is such a great and important job for us athletes to pass on our experience and knowledge to youngest section of our community- the children.”

Olympic Day is coming up on June 23. It is a day to get active and encourage those in your community to take part in activities promoting the Olympic values.

The WOA would like to share your NOA‘s inspirational Olympic Day stories, events and pictures on our digital and social platforms so please let us know about any planned Olympic Day activities by contacting info@thewoa.org.

Olympians are also encouraged to engage on social media using the hashtag #OlympicDay.

Photo credit: LTOK